Pregnancy may weaken teens' bones

Teenage girls who become pregnant may be at increased risk for weakened bones. In a recent study, one third of the teen mothers had low bone mass typical of the brittle-bone disease osteoporosis or a precursor condition called osteopenia. The findings highlight the importance of adequate calcium intake during teenage pregnancy.Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore studied 23 pregnant girls aged 13.5 to 18.3 years. Fifteen of the girls were available for follow-up during the first couple of months after giving birth. It was found that, as in adults during pregnancy, calcium absorption was higher during pregnancy than after delivery. About one out of every three teen mothers showed signs of significant bone thinning after giving birth. Of the fifteen girls whose bone mass was measured 3 to 4 weeks after giving birth, two girls fit the criteria for the brittle-bone disease osteoporosis. Another three girls showed signs of osteopenia.Calcium is in high demand during pregnancy as the growing fetus needs the nutrient for bone formation. While the fetus needs calcium to develop healthy bones, so does the pregnant teen. In fact, girls form 40 percent of their bone mass during adolescence. It is particularly important to ensure that pregnant teens consume the recommended amount of calcium during pregnancy, 1,300 milligrams per day, to ensure that sufficient calcium is absorbed to meet both maternal and foetal calcium demands. Not all pregnant girls, however, are doomed to have weak bones. The study showed that a higher intake of calcium during pregnancy was directly related to improved calcium balance. This suggests that greater calcium consumption during pregnancy may protect against bone loss. The researchers conclude that more research is needed to evaluate the long-term effect of teen pregnancy on the formation of peak bone mass.